Developing a Revenue Generation Model for Student Sports in Iran

Introduction
Physical education and sports are critical to the physical, psychological, and social development of individuals, especially students. Sports activities in schools enhance students' physical and mental well-being while fostering communication skills, personality development, and social identity. Beyond physical and mental benefits, school sports serve as an educational tool that instills moral values, teamwork, and respect for rules among students. In Iran, student sports rely heavily on government and provincial budgets, which are insufficient to cover even operational expenses. Statistics show that less than 5% of the national sports budget is allocated to student sports. This financial inadequacy, coupled with instability in budget allocations, poses significant challenges for long-term planning and investment. Challenges also include the absence of a structured revenue-generation model, underutilization of private sector capacities, weak sponsorship acquisition, and inadequate infrastructure to monetize sports assets. Addressing these issues requires innovative revenue-generation models to transform the financial structure of student sports. Achieving financial independence is essential for the sustainable development of student sports. Dependence on government funding exposes this sector to risks such as budget fluctuations and delays in fund allocation, hindering consistent planning. With the growing student population and the need to expand school sports, current funding levels are grossly inadequate. Designing a structured, localized revenue-generation model is crucial for reducing financial dependence and achieving stability. Such a model ensures the independence of school sports and facilitates their primary goals: fostering students' physical, skill-based, and ethical growth.
Methods
The research method was qualitative and employed semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 experts. The experts included managers and officials of student sports at the national and provincial levels, organizers of student sports competitions, sports coaches active in school sports, academics and experts in sports management and physical education, as well as professionals involved in attracting sponsors and financial supporters for sports. Purposeful sampling was used to select the participants (15 experts). Data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method. The interviews were coded using MAXQDA 2020 software. To ensure the quality and credibility of the qualitative results, criteria such as credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability were applied.
Results
In this study, interviews were conducted with 15 experts, and the data were coded in three stages. In the first stage, the analysis of the 15 interviews resulted in the extraction of 100 semantic expressions and open codes. In the second stage, axial coding was performed, during which all finalized open codes were reviewed and compared with the research literature. Ultimately, based on the experts' opinions, 50 factors were validated. In the final stage, all axial codes were categorized, and the 50 axial codes were grouped into 5 selective codes. The findings indicated that this model consists of five dimensions: marketing and advertising, event planning and management, financial resource management, development of collaborations and partnerships, and technological advancement.
Conclusion
Given the financial challenges and the importance of student sports, this study addresses a central question: What is the optimal revenue-generation model for student sports in Iran? The research aims to identify strategies that reduce dependency on government funding while enhancing financial and structural stability. By answering this question, the study contributes to sports management and offers solutions for policymakers and stakeholders. This introduction provides a foundation for exploring revenue-generation strategies in student sports. By addressing challenges, leveraging collaborations, and drawing on prior research, the study aims to establish a sustainable financial framework for student sports in Iran.